"_At the Duchess of Drinkwater's fashionable reunion, held last night, I
noticed among the first-comers, &c._;" _i.e._, I got all my information,
when it was over, as well as I could, from an inebriated linkman.
"_What is this we hear about a certain----?_" We're not certain of our
authority, but can't miss the opportunity of being first in the field
with the rumour of a scandal, so we put it into an interrogatory form,
which can't do any harm to _us_.
"_The greatest excitement prevails_;" _i.e._, Two men who were not
present on the occasion discuss it under a lamp-post and the influence
of liquor.